Before the first test in Colombo, Ranatunga boasted the test would be won by his team in three days. After losing he went on record not rating the Kiwi bowlers.

The portly skipper might be better served eating a large helping of humble pie and should have played enough international cricket to know the folly of such bold predictions, even if he is on home territory.

Had he not noticed New Zealand had won its last two home tests against Zimbabwe, admittedly also in the bottom tier of test nations? Or that New Zealand convincingly beat Sri Lanka 2-0 when the teams last met in New Zealand the season before?

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, before this series began came off a 2-0 away series loss to South Africa.

New Zealand's win against the home side is the first time it has recorded three successive test victories in its history.

Even the outstanding teams of the 1980s, led by Martin Crowe and Sir Richard Hadlee, while managing three wins in a season several times, never strung together such a hat-trick.

Some of those successes were against a Sri Lankan side still feeling its way at top level, after being admitted to the test stage.

Over all, New Zealand's record against Sri Lanka is better than most other test-playing nations. So far it has played 16, won seven, drawn seven and lost two.

One of those defeats came when an under-strength side was cobbled together after several players returned home following a bomb blast at the start of the 1992-93 visit.

The second win, Sri Lanka's first overseas at Napier in 1994-95, came with the New Zealand team at its lowest ebb after the South African tour debacle and subsequent fallout.

Sri Lanka's modest first-up performance against New Zealand should spur it to lift its game.

Rather than sound off with provocative remarks, Ranatunga would be better advised quietly plotting how to beat the Black Caps. New Zealand now has Sri Lanka well in its sights as the next team to topple on English magazine The Cricketer's test rankings table.